Line truck lift for elevating lineman to overhead power lines



Jan. 19, 1965 LINE TRUCK LIFT FOR ELEVATING LINEMAN TO OVERHEAD POWER LINES Filed June 20, 1962 Fig.

C. H. REED 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 19, 1965 c. H. REED 3,166,153

LINE TRUCK LIFT FOR ELEVATING LINEMAN TO OVERHEAD POWER LINES Filed June 20, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Christ/'an H. Reed Fig 9 INVENTOR.

BY WWW-xbm United States Patent O 3,166,153 LINE TRUCK LIFT FOR ELEVA'IING LlNEMAN T GVEREEAI) PQWER LINES Christian H. Reed, 917 Fremont, Iowa Fails, Iowa Filed June 2i), 1962, Ser. No. 203,793 12 Claims. (Cl. 182-2) This invention relates to a new and useful type of boom lift and more specifically to a boom lift primarily designed to be mounted on a line truck and utilized to elevate linemen to overhead power lines. In addition, the boom may also be used for other purposes such as a support for tree workmen.

The line truck lift of the instant invention includes a rigid boom-like member which is pivotally secured at one end to a truck for movement about a substantially horizontally disposed axis. inasmuch as trucks are normally longer than they are wide, the axis about which 'the free` end of the boom-like member is swingable extends transversely of the truck so that the boom-like member may be more readily properly positioned adjacent the power lines or trees workmen are to work upon by the maneuvering of the truck to which the boom lift is secured. The truck is provided with means for pivoting the boom from a substantially horizontally disposed position closely overlyingr the ground on which the truck is supported to an inclined position with the free end of the boom elevated above the pivoted end thereof. The free end of the boom is provided with an enclosure or platform for supporting one or more workmen and the platform or enclosure is pivotally mounted upon the free end of the boom for movement about an axis generally paralleling the axis of rotation of the end of the boom which is pivotally secured to the truck.

A rigid and longitudinally adjustable stabilizer rod is secured between the truck and the platform enclosure in a manner to form a parallelograrn linkage which interconnects the platform and the truck in a manner whereby the platform may be maintained substantially horizontally disposed throughout the full path of swinging movement of the boom. In some cases lift platforms and the like have been pivotally secured to the free ends of swingable booms in a manner whereby the center of gravity of the platform is disposed between the axis of rotation of the platform with respect to the Vboom in order that the platform will continually be maintained in a horizontal position. However, when platforms and enclosures of the freely pivotable type are utilized to support one or more workmen and are required to operate in adverse conditions such as in a high wind, the platform will tend to pivot back and forth relative to the boom due to the high wind or because the workmen are required to move about the platform from one side to the other. For this reason, the line truck lift of the instant invention has been `constructed in a manner to include a parallelogram linkage connection between the platform and the line truck.

The line truck lift of the instant invention includes a standard from whose upper end of the platform is supported and it is the standard that is pivotally secured toV the free end of the lift boom. In addition to being provided with a parallelogram linkage connection between the platform and the line truck, the standard of the line truck lift to which the platform is secured is of the `extendable type and means are interconnected between the extendable standard and the lift boom whereby the standard will be extended in length in direct response to upward swinging movement of the free end of the support boom.

The main object of this invention is to provide a pivoted boom-type lift having a platform or enclosure pivotally mounted on the free end thereof with a rigid stabilizer being interconnected between the platform and Cce the boom of the lift in order to provide a parallelogram linkage between the platform and the lift so that the platform may be maintained in a horizontally disposed position throughout pivotal movement of the boom relative to the line truck to which it is pivotally secured. Y

A further object of this invention is to provide the support platform or enclosure of the line truck lift with an elongated standard which is extendable and pivotally secured to the free end of the lift boom and constructed in a manner so that the extendable support will be autol matically extended in direct response to upward swinging movement of the free end of the lift boom thereby enabling the support platform or enclosure carried by the free end of the boom to be raised in elevation relative to the free end of the boom as the free end of the boom itself is raised. In this manner, the line truck lift of the instant invention may be utilized to lift workmen to a Aheight above the lower end of the lift boom greater than the over-all length of the boom itself.

Still another object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a means for adjusting the effective length of the rigid stabilizer defining the parallelogram linkage whereby the pivoted boom and stabilizer may be mounted at alternate positions on a line truck or the like to which the boom lift is pivotally secured and the support platform or enclosure may be disposed horizontally even though the line truck to which the lift boom is pivotally secured is disposed other than horizontally.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a support platform or enclosure for supporting one or more workmen on the free end of the lift boom including upstanding and encircling side walls whereby a workman will be afforded maximum safety precautions'.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a means whereby the amount the extendable standard is extended in response to the raising of the free end of the lift boom a given amount may be adjusted. i

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a boom lift in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and automatic in operation so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and simple to operate.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary top plan View of the line truck lift of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indi-V n cated by the section line 3 3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical seci tional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4 taken substantially upon the longitudinal center line passing through the standard; Y

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational View 'of the,

standard and the enclosure assembly with portions thereof being broken away and shown in section;

'7 i3 FIGUREv 8v is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 8-8 of FIGURE 6; A

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view `taken'substantially upon the plane indicated yby the section line 9 9 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the enclosure assembly'illustrating the details. of the construction Ofastep which is secured. to the outer surfaces f of the enclosure to assist workmen in climbing into andout ofthe enclosure. v Y

Referring now more specifically to theV drawings 'the numeral 10 generallyv designates. a conventional type of line truckA which has had a` winch assembly generally referredy to by the referencenumeral 12 added thereto togetherl witha boom member and supporting brace generallyV referred to by the reference numeral 16.

Thel line truck lift of the instant invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 18 and includes an elongated boom assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 20. The brace assembly 16 includes al pair of Yupright standards 22 and 24 interconnected at their upper ends by meansof a transverse support 26. A pulley assembly 28.is mounted on the transverse support 26 intermediate its opposite ends and the standards 22 and 24and it will be noted that the boom assembly 20 comprisesV a pair of boom arms 30 and 32 which have corresponding ends thereof pivotally secured to the lower ends of the standards 22 and 24 by means of pivot pinsy 34.; The free` ends of the boom arms 39 and 32 have an axle assembly 36 secured therebetween and a pulley as sembly 38 is mounted on the axle assembly 36 intermediate the free ends of the boom arms 30 and 32.

A support standard 39; includes a base 40'which is generally inverted U-shapedV in configuration and includes a pair of sides42Vv and 44 interconnected at their upper ends by meansof a bight portion 46. The sides 42 and 44 are eachapertured asl at 48 and receive therethrough the free ends of the axle assembly 36 to which the outermost ends ofthe boom arms30 andY 32 are secured. The axle assembly 3 6 includesV opposite` end diametrically enlarged end portions |.)A and 52 which prevent the free ends of the boom arms 30Y and 32 from slipping off the ends of the axle assembly 36.

The lowerends of the, sides42V and 44 include inwardly offset lower end portionsS-i and S6 which are interconnected kat-their lower edges by means of a bight portion 5S.

The free endl of an elongated rigid stabilizer `bar 60 has alongitudinal threaded blind bore .62. formedthereinin which the shank portion 64 o f an eye member 66 is threadedly engaged. A connecting pin 68 is secured through the offset portionsA 54 and 5,6 and through'the eyev member 66,. The shank V6,4 of the eye member 66 has an adjusting nut 7i), threadedly engaged therewith and a jam nut 72 also threadedly engaged therewith. By means of the adjusting nut 75l4 and the jam nut 72, the over-all length of the rigid stabilizer bar 60 may be adjusted., 'Y

VThe end of the stabilizerbar 6G4 remote from the support standard 18 is pivotally secured to the lower end of the brace member support vbracket 14by means of a pivot pin 74. An elongated flexible tension member 76 hasjone end thereof Vsecured to an attaching eye 78 carried bythe truck and the .other end is passed through the pulley assembly 38 and the pulley assembly 28 and wound about the winding drum 80 of the winch assembly 12 which is powered by means of an Yelectric motor 82.

Accordingly, it may be seen that upon actuation of the electric motor 82 the free end of the boom assembly 2t) may beY raised and lowered. In addition, inasmuch as thel stabilizer,y bar 60 completes a parallelogram linkageA connection between the support standard 39 and the truck y 1 0, the rsupport standard 39 willbe retained in a substantlally vertlcally disposed position throughout the full travel of swinging movement ofthe boomassembly.

tion 46 by means of welding 90. The base socket 83 opens upwardly and has a pair of diametrically aligned boresV 92 formedY therein and an abutment shoulder 94 formed on the upper end thereof. The standard portion 86 includes lirst and second telescopically engaged sections 96 and 9S( The outer section 98 is secured as by welding 1% to the shoulder 94 and the inner section 96 is slidably received inthe outer section98. A baseA socket 162 provided with a pair of diametricA bores 104which are registrable with bores 92 anda retaining p in 106 is removably secured through the aligned bores 92 andA 104 for releasably securing the standardV portion 86 to the base 4th A transverse` shaft 108 is journaled from the upper end of the outer section 98 by means of a collar 109 Welded to the outer section 93 and a pair of pulley wheels 110 yare jcurnaled thereon. A pairV of vanchoring studs 112 are secured to the lower end of the inner section 96 andare slidably received in the slots 113-formed in the, outer section 98. A pair of elongated exible tension members 11di and 116 are secured at one pair of corresponding ends to the anchoring studs 112, pass upwardlyY and are entrained over the pulley wheels 110 and are secured to a selected pair of the eyes 1164 and 118 carried bythe boom arms 30 and 32.

The collar 109 includes a shield assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 120` which supports the shaft 16S and partially encloses the pulley wheels 110. The upper end of the inner section 96 projectsrbeyond the upper end of the outer section 9S and is provided with a pair of diametric bores 122 which are registrable with a pair of diametricbores 124 formed in the lower end of a Vdownwardly opening socket member 126 which is dependingly supported from the lower endV of the enclosure assembly 128.

A connecting pin V130 is secured through the registered pairs of bores 122 and 124 in order to secure the socket member 126 to the upper end ofthe inner section 96.

The upper end of the socket member 126 includes'a mounting flange 132 to which the bottom 134 of the enclosure assembly 128 is fasteners 136.

With attention now directed to FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawings it will be noted that the enclosure assembly 128 is provided with an upstanding encircling'side wall tion including a mounting ange. 148 through Which the` fasteners 146vare'secured` yand a horizontally disposed tread iiangeA 150.

It is to be noted that whilethe support standard 39,.

has herein been described andillustrated as being extendable, it can veryeasily be made rigid thus doing away with the necessity for the pulley wheels 110, the` eyes 116 and 118, the anchoring studs 112,' andy the flexible Ytension members 114. If arigid supportstandardwere y provided, the operativonof the line truck lift would be substantially theY same as. the line truckflift4 illustrated and described herein with the exception being that the enclosure assembly thereof would notfbe elevated relative to the free ends of the boom armsin direct response to Vthe raising ofthe free endsof the boom arms.

It 1s to be further noted that the enclosure assembly. Y 128 may readily be constructedv of dielectric materials so. as to enable linemen towork in safety. Finally, the

secured by means of suitable l two pairs of attaching eyes 116 and 118 may be used to adjust the amount the standard portion 86 will `be extended in response to the raising of the free end of the boom assembly a given amount.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications andV equivalents m-ay be resorted to, falling within theV scope' of the invention as claimed;

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A truck lift for elevating lineman to overhead power lines comprising an elongated boom assembly, means on one end of said boom assembly adapted to pivotally secure the latter to a truck for rotation about an axis extending transversely of said boom, an elongated support standard, means on the lower end of said standard pivotally securing the latter to the other end of said boom assembly for movement about an axis generally paralleling the iirst mentioned axis, a rigid elongated stabilizer member, means pivotallyv securing one end of said stabilizer to said standard for rotation about an axis generally paralleling the second mentioned axis and means adapted to pivotally secure the other end of said stabilizer member to said truck for movement about an axis generally paralleling and spaced from the tirst mentioned dinally extendable, Vand means interconnected between said boom assembly and said upper section for automatically extending and retractin g said standard upper section relative to said lower section in response to pivotal movement of said standard relative to said boom yassembly.

9. The combination of claim including a support to which the other end portion ofv said boom assembly is pivotally secured for rotation aboutan axis generally paralleling the first mentioned axis, and means interconnected between said'support andV standard for pivoting the latter relative to said boom `assembly in response axis a distance substantially equal to the distance between the second and third mentioned axes, the effective length of said boom and said stabilizer member being substantially equal, and a support platform carried by said support standard, said elongated standard being extendable, and means interconnected between said boom assembly and said standard for automatically extending said standard in response to the raising of the other end of said boom assembly relative to said one end thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 including means for adjusting the effective length of said stabilizer.

3. The combination of claim 1 including an upwardly opening enclosure carried by said platform adapted to receive linemen to be elevated to an overhead power line.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said enclosure includes an upstanding and encircling retaining wall, a plurality of outwardly projecting step members carried by said retaining wall for assisting linemen when entering the enclosure when the boom is lowered.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said boom assembly comprises a pair of legs converging toward each other at said other end of said boom, said second mentioned pivotal securing means interconnecting said legs at said other end of said boom.

6. The combination of claim l wherein said last mentioned means includes means for adjusting the amount said support standard will be extended in response to upward movement from one position to another.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said support standard includes iirst and second upper and lower endwise overlapped sections, a support platform being cartied by the upper end of said upper section.

8. A boom assembly, an elongated support standard including rst and second upper and lower endwise overlapped sections, means pivotally securing the lower portion of the lower section to one end portion of said boom assembly about an axis extending transversely of said boom assembly and sections, said standard being longituto pivoting movement of said boom'assembly relative to said support.

10. The combination vof claim 9 wherein last mentioned means includes means for positively oscillating said standard relative to said boom assembly inl response to oscillation of said boom assembly relative to said support.

ll. Firstr and second elongated members, said second member including rst and second elongated endwise overlapped-and longitudinally extendable sections, means pivotally securing one end of said rst member to a free end ofsaid rst section of said second member for rotation about an axis extendingvtransversely of said first member and said first section, and means interconnected between said rst member and said second section for automatically extending and retracting said second sectionY relative'to said first section in response to pivotal movement of said lirst section relative toY said rst member.l v

12. A boom assembly, an elongated support standard i i of said boom assembly and standard, said sections being longitudinally extendable, and means interconnected between said boom assembly and said upper section for automatically lextending and retracting said standard upper. section relative to said lower section in response to pivotal movement'of said standard relative to said boom assembly, said standmd including first and second upper and lower endwise overlapped sections, the lower end of said lower section being pivotally secured to said boom assembly, guide means carried by the upper end of said lower section, and exible elongated tension member means secured at one end to the lower end portion of said i upper section and guidingly engaged by said guide means at its rnid-portion and secured to said boom assembly at its other end a spaced distance from the axis ofrotation of the standard relative to the boom assembly comprising said means by which said standard is automatically extended and retracted in response to pivotal movement of said standard relative to said boom assembly.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSV 2,073,998 Raby Mar. 16, 1937 2,954,092 Trump Sept. 27,v 19,60 2,996,195 Hansen Aug. 15, 1961 3,009,546 Anderson Nov. 21, 1961 3,022,854 Eckels Feb. 27, 1962 3,056,465 Gerrans Oct. 2, 1962 

1. A TRUCK LIFT FOR ELEVATING LINEMAN TO OVERHEAD POWER LINES COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BOOM ASSEMBLY, MEANS ON ONE END OF SAID BOOM ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO PIVOTALLY SECURE THE LATTER TO A TRUCK FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BOOM, AN ELONGATED SUPPORT STANDARD, MEANS ON THE LOWER END OF SAID STANDARD PIVOTALLY SECURING THE LATTER TO THE OTHER END OF SAID BOOM ASSEMLBY FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLELING THE FIRST MENTIONED AXIS, A RIGID ELONGATED STABILIZER MEMBER, MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING ONE END OF SAID STABILIZER TO SAID STANDARD FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLELING THE SECOND MENTIONED AXIS AND MEANS ADAPTED TO PIVOTALLY SECURE THE OTHER END OF SAID STABILIZER MEMBER TO SAID TRUCK FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLELING AND SPACED FROM THE FIRST MENTIONED AXIS A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD MENTIONED AXES, THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF SAID BOOM AND SAID STABILIZER MEMBER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL, AND A SUPPORT PLATFORM CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT STANDARD, SAID ELONGATED STANDARD BEING EXTENDABLE, AND MEANS INTERCONECTAED BETWEEN SAID BOOM ASSEMBLY AND SAID STANDARD FOR AUTOMATICALLY EXTENDING SAID STANDARD IN RESPONSIVE TO THE RAISING OF THE OTHER END OF SAID BOOM ASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO SAID ONE END THEREOF. 